Medicare Enrolled
Dr. Kevin Nickell, MD
Urology Physician · Houston, TX
Practice pattern: Clinical Cardiology
— Primarily office-based clinical cardiology
Low-engagement
Very High
DATA COVERAGE
Data in 4 of 4 federal sources
Measures public federal data availability — not provider quality
Informational, not a quality rating.
This page presents federal public records about Dr. Nickell from CMS (NPPES, Open Payments, Medicare Provider Utilization, PECOS). It is not medical advice, an endorsement, or a judgment of clinical quality. Always consult the provider directly and a licensed clinician for medical decisions. Read methodology →
Are you Dr. Nickell?
Request a correction or review of any data shown here. Provider portal →
What this data tells you about Dr. Nickell
Dr. Kevin Nickell is an urology physician in Houston, TX, with 20 years of NPI registration. Based on federal Medicare data, Dr. Nickell performed 4,386 Medicare services across 2,467 unique beneficiaries.
Between the years covered by Open Payments, Dr. Nickell received a total of $11,927 from 65 pharmaceutical and/or device companies across 468 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common in urology physician. Most payments are for meals and travel — low-value interactions common across virtually all practicing physicians. Patients may wish to discuss these relationships with their provider.
The Data Coverage level for Dr. Nickell is Very High — reflecting how much public federal data is available about this provider. This is not a quality rating. Patients are encouraged to use this data as one of several factors when choosing a healthcare provider.
✓ 20 years in practice
▲ Top 27% volume in TX
$11,927 industry payments
Medicare Practice Summary
Medicare Utilization ↗4,386
Medicare services
Top 27% in TX for urology physician
2,467
Unique beneficiaries
$56
Avg. Medicare payment
Medicare patients only (65+ / disabled) · Not a quality rating · How to read this →
~219 Medicare services per year of practice
Top procedures by volume
Ranked by number of services performed for Medicare patients. Avg. submitted charge is what the provider billed; avg. Medicare payment is what CMS paid.
| Procedure | Volume | Avg. paid | Avg. submitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated urinalysis An automated laboratory test performed on a urine sample to analyze its chemical and physical properties. The procedure uses machinery to detect various substances and cells within the urine. |
932 | $2 | $2 |
| Chronic care management, first 20 min/month This service covers the first 20 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a healthcare professional each calendar month to manage chronic conditions. |
733 | $46 | $65 |
| Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) A follow-up office visit for an existing patient lasting between 30 and 39 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
693 | $87 | $135 |
| Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting between 20 and 29 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
514 | $64 | $94 |
| Blood draw (venipuncture) Insertion of a needle into a vein to collect a blood sample. |
358 | $8 | $9 |
| Leuprolide acetate (for depot suspension), 7.5 mg | 242 | $131 | $186 |
| Bladder ultrasound after voiding An ultrasound scan performed after urination to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder. |
115 | $8 | $11 |
| New patient office visit (30-44 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 30 and 44 minutes. This code is used when the total time spent on the date of the encounter falls within this range. |
85 | $79 | $119 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, low complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an established patient with straightforward or low-level medical decision making. The visit requires at least 25 minutes of time spent on the day of service. |
78 | $40 | $51 |
| Hospital follow-up visit, moderate complexity Follow-up hospital visit for an existing patient involving moderate medical decision making. The visit requires at least 35 minutes of time spent on the date of service. |
71 | $64 | $82 |
| New patient office visit (45-59 min) An initial office visit for a new patient lasting between 45 and 59 minutes. This code covers the total time spent by the physician or qualified healthcare professional on the date of the encounter. |
67 | $116 | $177 |
| Drug injection, under skin or into muscle A procedure involving the administration of a medication or substance via injection into the subcutaneous tissue or muscle. |
62 | $11 | $15 |
| Subcutaneous or intramuscular chemotherapy injection This procedure involves administering anti-cancer hormonal medication through an injection into the tissue under the skin or into a muscle. |
61 | $24 | $35 |
| Office visit, established patient (10-19 min) An office visit for an existing patient lasting 10 to 19 minutes. The visit involves medical evaluation and management of the patient's condition. |
59 | $43 | $58 |
| Simple insertion of temporary bladder tube A procedure to place a temporary tube into the bladder. This allows for the drainage of urine from the bladder. |
56 | $49 | $64 |
| Ceftriaxone antibiotic injection This code represents the administration of ceftriaxone sodium, an antibiotic medication. The charge is calculated for every 250 mg of the drug administered. |
50 | $0 | $1 |
| Electronic assessment of bladder emptying A test that uses electronic monitoring to evaluate how well the bladder empties urine. |
28 | $11 | $15 |
| Initial hospital admission, low complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving straightforward or low-level medical decision making, with at least 40 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
25 | $67 | $86 |
| Initial hospital admission, moderate complexity Initial hospital inpatient or observation care for a new patient involving moderate-level medical decision making, with at least 55 minutes total time on the date of the encounter. |
21 | $105 | $134 |
| Transurethral prostate removal with electrocautery This procedure involves removing the prostate gland through the urethra using an endoscope and an electrocautery knife to control bleeding. |
18 | $571 | $749 |
| Ureteral stent insertion via cystoscopy A tube is placed into the ureter using an endoscope inserted through the bladder. |
17 | $89 | $322 |
| Prostate gland biopsy A procedure to remove small samples of tissue from the prostate gland for laboratory examination. |
17 | $94 | $251 |
| Ultrasound guidance for needle placement Use of ultrasound imaging to guide the precise placement of a needle during a medical procedure. |
17 | $22 | $31 |
| Cystourethroscopy A diagnostic exam of the bladder and urethra using an endoscope to visually inspect the urinary tract. |
15 | $163 | $250 |
| Ureteral stone crushing with stent insertion An endoscope is used to break up a stone in the ureter, followed by the placement of a stent to keep the ureter open. |
15 | $308 | $425 |
| Imaging of urinary tract with contrast An imaging test of the urinary tract performed after a contrast agent is injected to enhance visibility of the structures. |
14 | $19 | $25 |
| Transrectal ultrasound of the pelvis An ultrasound imaging procedure where a probe is inserted into the rectum to visualize pelvic structures. |
12 | $94 | $142 |
| Injection of biodegradable material next to prostate A procedure involving the injection of a biodegradable substance into the tissue surrounding the prostate gland. |
11 | $2,381 | $2,999 |
How to read this data: This reflects Medicare patients only (typically 65+). Payment amounts are what Medicare paid the provider, not your out-of-pocket cost. A higher procedure volume generally indicates more experience with that procedure.
0.7% high complexity
8.2% medium
91.1% routine
Industry Payment Transparency
Open Payments through 2024 ↗$11,927
Total received (2018-2024)
Avg $1,704/year across 7 years
Top 17% in TX for urology physician
65
Companies
468
Individual payments
All payments are legal and publicly reported · Not evidence of wrongdoing · How to interpret →
Payment profile
Industry payments classified by relationship type. Not all payments are equal — research and consulting reflect different relationships than speaking programs or meals.
Meals & Travel
Food, beverages, travel, and lodging — typically low-value
$11,919 (99.9%)
Speaking / Promotional
Speaker programs, honoraria, and industry-sponsored educational events
$9 (0.1%)
Payment trend by year
Annual totals from pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
2024
$2,441
2023
$1,980
2022
$1,756
2021
$1,207
2020
$1,182
2019
$1,882
2018
$1,480
Payments by company (2024)
Consulting
Speaking
Meals & Travel
Research
Boston Scientific Corporation
$1,318
PFIZER INC.
$933
Coloplast Corp
$685
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$678
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
$656
Astellas Pharma US Inc
$640
Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.
$614
Janssen Biotech, Inc.
$600
Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.
$529
Antares Pharma, Inc.
$330
COLOPLAST CORP
$291
Dendreon Pharmaceuticals LLC
$280
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$254
Avadel Specialty Pharmaceuticals, LLC
$224
Medtronic, Inc.
$221
ABBVIE INC.
$209
C. R. Bard, Inc. & Subsidiaries
$205
PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation
$201
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
$201
ConvaTec Inc.
$193
Myovant Sciences Inc.
$170
NeoTract Inc.
$164
AbbVie, Inc.
$145
180 Medical, Inc.
$142
Allergan Inc.
$140
Tolmar, Inc.
$139
Aytu BioScience, Inc
$131
Allergan, Inc.
$126
TOLMAR Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$97
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
$93
ABC Home Medical Supply, Inc.
$85
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$84
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$82
Axonics Modulation Technologies, Inc.
$69
IMMUNITYBIO, INC.
$64
Teleflex LLC
$59
Travere Therapeutics, Inc.
$55
PROGENICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
$51
HealthTronics Stone Solutions, LLC
$49
ACCORD HEALTHCARE, INC.
$48
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
$46
NxThera, Inc.
$45
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$41
Telix Pharmaceuticals
$39
Blue Earth Diagnostics Limited
$38
Acerus Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$34
Amgen Inc.
$33
BIOTISSUE HOLDINGS INC.
$33
Retrophin, Inc.
$32
Cook Medical LLC
$29
Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
$29
Baxter Healthcare
$25
AbbVie Inc.
$24
Verity Pharmaceuticals Inc.
$24
Rochester Medical Corporation
$22
Endo USA, Inc.
$22
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
$21
UroGen Pharma, Inc.
$20
Avanos Medical
$19
Ambu Inc.
$19
Ethicon US, LLC
$18
Teleflex Medical Incorporated
$16
AKRIMAX PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC
$15
Clarus Therapeutics Inc.
$14
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc
$9
Top 3 companies account for 24.6% of total payments
Associated products mentioned in payments ›
(815) Thiola · ADSTILADRIN · AFINITOR · ALTIS · AMS · AMS 700 · AMS 700 CXR RTE KIT · AMS Ambicor · ANKTIVA · AQUABEAM ROBOTIC SYSTEM · AQUABEAM SYSTEM · AVEED · Altis · Androgel · Axonics r-SNM System · Axumin · BOTOX · BOTOX THERAPEUTIC · BRAC CDx · BRACANALYSIS CDX · BRACAnalysis CDx · Bard Urinary Drainage Bag · CAMCEVI · CLENPIQ · CURE CATHETER · Coloplast TFL Drive · Dornier MedTech · EDEX · ELIGARD · ERLEADA · Erleada · FIRMAGON · GEMTESA · GENERAL KIDNEY STONE DISEASE · GENERAL BPH · GENERAL - BPH · GENERAL - KIDNEY STONE DISEASE · GENERAL BPH · GENERAL ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION · GENERAL KIDNEY STONE DISEASE · GENTLECATH · General - Kidney Stone Disease · ILLUCCIX · INLAY OPTIMA · INTERSTIM · JATENZO · JELMYTO · KEYTRUDA · LITHOVUE · LUPRON DEPOT · LYNPARZA · Ligation Solutions: Weck & Horizon brands · Lupron · Lupron Depot · MYRBETRIQ · Myrbetriq · NCIRCLE · NOCDURNA · Natesto · Noctiva · Nubeqa · ON-Q* PUMP AND ACCESSORIES · ORGOVYX · OTREXUP · PREMARIN · PROLARIS · PROVENGE · PYLARIFY · Porges Coloplast · Prolaris · Prolia · REZUM · ROCHESTER MAGIC3 · Rezum · Rezum Generator · SPACEOAR · SURGICEL Family of Absorbable Hemostats · SUTENT · SpaceOAR VUE System - 10mL · SpeediCath · Stendra · TISSEEL · TITAN · TLANDO · TOVIAZ · Thiola · Trelstar · UROLIFT · UroLift · VESICARE · XIAFLEX · XTANDI · XYOSTED · Xofigo · Xtandi · ZYTIGA
Should you be concerned? Payments from pharmaceutical and device companies are legal and common — 57% of U.S. physicians receive at least one. They often reflect legitimate consulting, research, or education. What matters is whether a recommended drug or device appears in your doctor's payment records. If so, consider asking your doctor about it. How to interpret this data →
Most payments (100%) are for meals and travel — low-value interactions that are common across virtually all practicing physicians.
Equivalent to $272 per 100 Medicare services performed
Geographic Context
Urology physicians within 10 mi
186
Per 100K population
3.9
County median income
$73,104
Nearest hospital
WEST OAKS HOSPITAL
0.0 mi
0.0 mi
Data Sources
| Provider Registry | ✓ NPPES | Weekly updates |
| Medicare Enrollment | ✓ PECOS | Monthly updates |
| Practice Data | ✓ Medicare Util. | Annual (CY lag) |
| Industry Payments | ✓ Open Payments | CY 2024 |
| Disciplinary History | — Not public | N/A |
This provider has data in 4 of 4 available federal datasets, with a Data Coverage level of Very High. This measures how much public data is available about a provider — not how good they are. How we calculate this →
Summary
Dr. Nickell is a clinical cardiology specialist, with above-average Medicare volume (top 27% in TX), with low-engagement industry engagement in the top 17% of TX peers, with 20 years of NPI registration.
This summary is auto-generated from federal data. It describes data availability and patterns — not clinical quality. Read our methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dr. Nickell experienced with automated urinalysis?
Based on Medicare claims data, Dr. Nickell performed 932 automated urinalysis services. Research suggests that higher procedure volume is often associated with better outcomes, particularly for complex procedures. Note that Medicare data only captures patients aged 65 and older, so the total practice volume across all patients is likely higher.
Does Dr. Nickell receive payments from pharmaceutical companies?
Yes. Dr. Nickell received a total of $11,927 from 65 companies across 468 individual payments. These payments are legal, publicly disclosed under the federal Sunshine Act, and common among physicians — 57% of all U.S. physicians receive at least one industry payment. Patients may wish to ask their doctor about these relationships, especially if a recommended drug or device appears in the payment records.
How do Dr. Nickell's costs compare to other urology physicians in Houston?
Dr. Nickell's average Medicare payment per service is $56. Note that these figures represent what Medicare pays, not your out-of-pocket cost, which depends on your specific insurance plan and deductible. Procedure-level data above shows both what was submitted and what Medicare paid for each service type.
What does Data Coverage mean?
Data Coverage (currently Very High for Dr. Nickell) measures how much public federal data is available about a provider. It is not a quality rating. A "Very High" or "High" level means the provider has data across multiple federal sources (NPPES, PECOS, Medicare Utilization, Open Payments), indicating a long track record of practice, Medicare participation, and industry disclosure. A "Low" or "Moderate" level may simply mean the provider is newer, does not see Medicare patients, or has not received any industry payments — none of which are inherently negative. Read our full methodology →
Is this data up to date?
Each data source has its own update cycle. Provider registry data (NPPES) is updated weekly. Medicare enrollment (PECOS) is updated monthly. Medicare practice data has a ~2 year lag — the most recent available is typically 2 years prior. Industry payment data (Open Payments) is published annually, usually in June, covering the prior calendar year. We display the data date prominently on each section so you always know how current it is. See our data freshness policy →
Explore related providers
Same specialty & city
Urology Physicians in Houston
Browse urology physicians in Houston ranked by procedure volume and transparency data.
Highest volume
Top Urology Physicians in TX
Urology physicians ranked by total Medicare services performed statewide.
Industry payments
Pharma Payments to Urology Physicians in TX
Which TX urology physicians receive the most from drug and device companies.
By company
Boston Scientific Corporation Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Boston Scientific Corporation.
By company
PFIZER INC. Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from PFIZER INC.
By company
Coloplast Corp Payments to Doctors
See all physicians who received payments from Coloplast Corp.
About this page
All data on this page is sourced verbatim from public federal records published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): NPPES ↗, Open Payments ↗, Medicare Provider Utilization ↗, and PECOS. Publication is mandated by the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (§6002 ACA, 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7h) and the Freedom of Information Act.
This page is not medical advice, an endorsement, a recommendation, or a quality rating. The Transparency Score measures data completeness — how much federal information exists for this provider — not clinical performance, patient outcomes, or quality of care. Always verify information directly with the provider and consult a licensed clinician before making medical decisions.
Provider corrections: Provider portal · Privacy questions: Privacy Policy · Terms: Terms of Use · Methodology: Methodology